Committees

Standing Committees of the Provincial Executive

Standing Committees support the work of the Provincial Executive and are organized into three categories: Administrative, Program, and Coordinating Committees. Each committee’s mandate and responsibilities are defined in the NSTU Operational Procedures. These appointments are effective August 1st. 

Black, Indigenous & People of Colour (BIPOC)

Assists in the planning of the biennial Encourage, Engage, Evolve Summit; studies matters pertaining to the current practices, attitudes, and research regarding engagement of racialized members in the education system and society; and reports its findings to the Provincial Executive.
  • Rénelle John, Chair, Colchester-East Hants - 2028
  • Christine Emberley, Halifax County - 2028
  • Aaron Jackson, Dartmouth - 2028
  • Jorge (George) Saldana, CSANE - 2028
  • Karuna Singh-Smith, Kings - 2028
  • Malik Adams, Provincial Executive - African Nova Scotian Representative
  • Francine Fleming, Provincial Executive - Indigenous
  • Wendie Wilson, NSTU Staff Liaison

Annual Report:

2025-2026

Comité de Programmation Acadienne

Studies the curriculum and all proposed changes in it as it relates to the Acadian schools under the direction of Conseil scolaire acadien provincial and reports its finding to the Provincial Executive.
  • Janika Moser, Chair, Central – 2027
  • Lise Boisvert, Northeast – 2028
  • Fernand d'Entremont, Southwest – 2028
  • Lise Laviolette, Central – 2029
  • Ian LeBlanc, Provincial Executive Member
  • Amanda O'Regan-Marchand, NSTU Staff Liaison

Annual Report:

2025-2026

Curriculum Committee

Studies the curriculum of schools and proposed changes and reports the findings and recommendations to the executive.

  • Kenna MacLean, Chair, Cape Breton District – 2027
  • Darlene Bereta, Northside-Victoria – 2027
  • Erin Linderman, Colchester-East Hants – 2028
  • Colleen Morgan, Inverness – 2028
  • Jason Petrie, Halifax City – 2028
  • Sarah Acker, Provincial Executive Member
  • Pam Langille, NSTU Staff Liaison

Annual Report:

2025-2026

Equity Committee

Concerned with matters pertaining to the current practices, attitudes and research regarding diversity, equity and social justice.

  • Suzanne Hadley, Chair, Annapolis – 2027
  • Carol Ann MacMaster, Cape Breton District – 2027
  • Linda MacPhee, Lunenburg County – 2027
  • Lara Fawthrop, Colchester-East Hants – 2028
  • Stephanie Nagy, Kings – 2028
  • Darren Stoddard, Shelburne County – 2028
  • Marilyn Skinner, Provincial Executive Member
  • Wendie Wilson, NSTU Staff Liaison

Annual Report:

2025-2026

Finance & Property Committee

Concerned with the overall financial plans and policy of the Union; presents regular financial statements to the Provincial Executive; makes recommendations to the Provincial Exeuctive on matters referred to it by the Executive; costs resolutions to Council and prepares an annual budget for presentation to Council; considers such resolutions as may be referred by Council and makes appropriate recommendations; is responsible for the general oversight of properties held or leased by the Union and considers requests respecting major purchases.

  • Lindsay Crossman Wheaton, ChairSecretary-Treasurer
  • Sharon Midwinter, Cumberland – 2027
  • Taunya Pynn Crowe, Colchester-East Hants  2028
  • Anne (Delynn) Reid, Cape Breton District 2028
  • Mark Savoury, Provincial Executive Member
  • Bethany MacLeod, NSTU Executive Director
  • Peter Day, NSTU President
  • Melanie Waye, NSTU Financial Officer

Annual Report:

2025-2026

Governance & Policy Committee

Develops and reviews policy with a view to authority, responsibility and accountability.

  • Malik Adams, African Nova Scotian
  • Francine Fleming, Indigenous
  • Melissa Deveau, Annapolis Valley Region
  • Andrew McCara, APSEA
  • Peter Murphy, Cape Breton-Victoria Region
  • Doug Read, Chignecto-Central Region
  • Ian LeBlanc, CSANE
  • Angela Ewing, Halifax Region
  • Mai-Ling Storm, South Shore Region
  • Janet O'Brien, Strait Region
  • Vera Ryan, Tri-County Region
  • Peter Day, NSTU President
  • Bethany MacLeod, NSTU Executive Director
  • Louis Robitaille, NSTU Staff Liaison

Annual Report:

2025-2026

Member Economic Welfare, Health & Safety, and Working Conditions Committee

Advise the Provincial Executive on methods to promote Member participation on Regional Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees; make recommendations to the Provincial Executive regarding professional development workshops to assist members with health and safety issues as defined by the Nova Scotia Occupational Health and Safety Act; prepare background information related to the merits of negotiable items; identify trends and developments in teacher bargaining across Canada with special emphasis on the Atlantic Provinces; review economic forecasts; make recommendations to the Provincial Executive regarding workshops for regional negotiators.

  • Jo-Leigh MacPhee, Chair, 1st Vice-President
  • Mike Jamieson, Halifax County – 2027
  • Denise Stone, Yarmouth – 2027
  • Marilyn MacDougall, Northside-Victoria – 2028
  • Sacha Millar, Digby – 2028
  • Sarah Tutty, Queens – 2028
  • Rachelle MacIsaac, Provincial Executive Member
  • Elizabeth Thomas, NSTU Staff Liaison

Annual Report:

2025-2026

Nominating Committee

Recommends to the executive the make-up of provincial committees.

  • Sarah Acker
  • Melissa Deveau
  • Kim Dunning
  • Jacinda Hatton
  • Sunitaq Pinet
  • Bethany MacLeod, NSTU Executive Director
  • Peter Day, NSTU Presiden

Annual Report:

2025-2026

Personnel Committee

  • Janet O'Brien, Chair, 2nd Vice-President
  • Kim Dunning
  • Andrew McCara
  • Peter Murphy
  • Bethany MacLeod, NSTU Executive Director
  • Peter Day, NSTU President

Annual Report:

2025-2026

Political Action & Public Relations Committee

Recommends to the Provincial Executive opportunities for involvement in political action for NSTU members (and others) regarding government positions pertaining to public education; monitor the policies and practices of the major provincial political parties for the purpose of identifying matters with an impact on education and/or NSTU Members; advise the NSTU President and Provincial Executive regarding these matters; during provincial elections, monitor the major provincial political parties for their public education platforms and policies and inform the NSTU President and Provincial Executive of any concerns; identify educational matters for consideration by the Provincial Executive for political action; identify corporate social responsibility and social justice concerns for consideration by the Provincial Executive for political action; develop strategies for encouraging NSTU member involvement in the political process.

  • Meg Ferguson, Chair, Halifax County – 2027
  • Chad Hanrahan, Northside-Victoria – 2027
  • Katrina Murphy, Colchester-East Hants – 2027
  • Megan Coles, Kings – 2028
  • Dean Marchand, Antigonish – 2028
  • Shelby Nickerson, Shelburne County – 2028
  • Virginie Latour, CSANE - 2028
  • TBD (APSEA - 2028)
  • TBD (South Shore - 2028)
  • Francine Fleming, Provincial Executive Member - Indigenous
  • Sue Larivière-Jenkins, Provincial Executive Member
  • Angela Murray, NSTU Staff Liaison
  • Mark Laventure, NSTU Staff Liaison

Annual Report:

2025-2026

Professional Association Coordination Committee

Advises the Provincial Executive on matters pertaining to professional associations, assists associations in carrying out their mandates, monitors the activities of associations and provides a communication channel between the Provincial Executive and Professional Associations.

  • Meghan MacNeil, SPAA – 2027
  • Steven Corbett, SSTA – 2027
  • Theresa Jennings, ATEC – 2028
  • Keli Brewer, NSMEA - 2029
  • Leijsa Squires, NSLTA - 2029
  • Kasi Humber, Provincial Executive Member
  • Amanda O'Regan-Marchand, NSTU Staff Liaison

Annual Report:

2025-2026

Professional Development Committee

Reviews and develops policy, and programs intended to improve the effectiveness of teachers as professionals and advances education through research in Nova Scotia classrooms. Make recommendations to Provincial Executive on recipients of Educational Research Awards, Travel Fellowship, Conference Grants and Full Time Study Grants.

  • Jason Jennings, Chair, Halifax County – 2027
  • Pauline Seymour, Richmond – 2027
  • Sarah Slauenwhite, Digby – 2027
  • Christina Cameron, Pictou 2028
  • Dawn MacDonald-Gillis, Northside-Victoria – 2028
  • Margaret Casey, Dartmouth - 2028
  • Melanie Kennedy-Conrad, Provincial Executive Member
  • Amanda O'Regan-Marchand, NSTU Staff Liaison

Annual Report:

2025-2026

Status of Women Committee

Promotes ways of enhancing the status of women in the teaching profession and in society.

  • Jen Bradley, Chair, Digby – 2027
  • Viviane Abdallah, Dartmouth – 2027
  • Cindy Ng-Ivanoff, Halifax County – 2027
  • Jennifer Handspiker, Annapolis – 2028
  • Shannon Parsons, Northside-Victoria –2028
  • Angela Hauser, Halifax City – 2028
  • Jacinda Hatton, Provincial Executive Member
  • Wendie Wilson, NSTU Staff Liaison

Annual Report:

2025-2026

Substitute Teacher Committee

Advises the Provincial Executive on issues affecting and of concern to substitute teachers.

  • Liam Timmons, Chair, Colchester-East Hants – 2027
  • Jess Wells, Halifax County – 2027
  • Leah Gillis, Halifax County  – 2028
  • Philip Meuse, CSANE - 2028
  • Adam Martin, Cape Breton District  – 2028
  • Doug Read, Provinvial Executive Member
  • Roxanna John, NSTU Staff Liaison

Annual Report:

2025-2026